Furnace



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FURNAGE Filed Aug. 1, 1927 2 sheets-sheet 2 x :Ill hun" Il. MII UMM 'um IlIIIi man um JUL/77,@ 5R, pom@ simplifyr theY construction and improve tlie 15 tion of the gases therein.

Patented Apr. 8, 1930 UNITED STATES PATE-Nr orrics `JAMES RUSSELL DOHERTY, OF OAK PARK, .ILLINOIS FURNAGE I Appncation filed August 1,

This invention relates to furnaces and more particularly to means for increasing the efficiency thereof;

' One object'of the present invention is to efficiency of ,devicesA of the character men- A tioned.

Another object of the invention is the provision of simple means for insuring'the commlo plete combustion of the generat'ed'f-uel gases.

' ,l 25 discharge to the atmosphere.

A still further object of theinvention is the provision of means whereby the intense heat in a secondary combustion chamber v may be utilized for the combustion of refuse or waste 30 matter'.

VOther objects and advantages will` appear from the following description of an illustrated embodiment of the present invention.

In the drawings: f Figure 1 is a sectional viewy in elevation of` a furnace embodying the features of the present invention, a ypart thereof being broken away to more clearly illustrate the structure thereof;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 2-2 of Figure 1; and

Figure?) is a fragmentary rear view in elevation of the structure shown in Figure 1.

The structure selected for illustration com- 45 prises a furnace having the usual intermediate sections 10 disposed between a rear section 11 anda front plate section12, the sections being securedtogether in anysuitable manner to formA anintegral furnace having ktheusual f 50 combustion chamber 13 with the rear section in the upper part of the furnace, the flue pasrchamber 14.

19271'Y serial No. 209,861.

14 thereof constituting, in this instance, a'secondary combustion chamber. The front Vsectiony 12 has the usual fire-box doors, shaker arms, and other accessoriesv of l' standard construction associated Vtherewith in ,w the usual manner. "m

Each section 10 has a chamber 15 of irregular configuration defining a large surface area, in this instance of T-shaped cross-section disposed adjacent each other to constitute the roof of the fire-box' or combustion chamber.` A plurality of irregular chambers 16 disposed rearwardly of the chambers 15, are arranged in spaced relation to permit the gases topass therebetween into a -fiue passage 17 6 sage 17 preferably defining a curvilinear path prior to establishing"communication with a chimney of suitable construction. Al grate' 18 of standard construction is horizontally disposed l within thefmward" portion ofthe combustionchainber 13,- it terminating in 'a-'bridge wall 19 vwhich extends vertically midway ofthe ceiling defined by the chambers 15. Obviously, the Aheight 75 tliereofmay be varied according to the particular characteristics desired, it having been found, however, that a wall proportioned substanti ally as villustrated herein isv productive of good results. Near the lower portion 'cf' Q0 the'bridge wall 19, a pluralityof apertures 2O are provided to permit a portion 4of the gases issuing from the burningl fuel to pass therethrough into the secondary combustion A water curtain 21 is disposed rearwardlyV of the bridge wall 19, it being arrangedto d'epend from a section 10 in spaced relation with the bridge wall 19.y A right angular projection 22 (Figures 1 and2 is formed integ'giial with the chamber 21 constituting a water cur"V tain, to support a column of refractory-bricks or other fire resisting material 23 thereon, the' lowermost bricks 23 being L-sh-aped to define v a continuous transverse passageway Macross the water curtain. i J

VThe passage 24 communicates with the eX- te'rior of the furnaceon either side thereof to admit air to be introduced within the combustion chamber subsequent to the temeating with the air conducting passage 24 whereby van auxiliary supply of air is furnished along the entire width of the water curtain to effect complete combustion and disintegration of the carbon contained in the combustion gases. The passage 24 extends eXterorly of the furnace 10 (Figure 2), it

being valved by any suitable means such as the members 26 which control the air admitted from either or both sides of the furnace to the combustion chamber 111, the air contacting with the water curtain 21 which regulates its temperature so that the admitted air will be sufficiently cool to furnish a maximum amount of oxygen per unit volume, but not cool enough to decrease the temperature of the gases suciently to effect a material decrease in thermal efficiency. The auxiliary air supply should be sufficiently heated to produce a rapid chemical reaction with the carbon in the furnace gases.

It is to be noted that a stream of air may be discharged from the surface of the wall 19 which confronts the ports 20 to more effectively oxidize the combustion gases passing therebetween. To accomplish this end, the structural arrangement disclosed in connec tion with the air passage 24 may be embodied in the wall 19, the proposed passages therein being supplied with air fromthe exterior of the furnace in any appropriate manner.

Immediately behind the bridge or baffle wall 19 is a horizontal layer of refractory bricks forming a floor 27 supported by a plate .28, the floor terminating in an arch 29. Immediately in advance of the arch 29 are a plurality of apertures 30 extending through the oor 27 to receive pipes 31 which communicate with a gas line 32 connected to a suitablesource of supply (not shown). These pipes constitute means whereby a pilot lightor a plurality of pilotlights may be provided so that the unconsumed gases from the fire-box 13 and the air from the water curtain 21 may be ignited. The pilot light is required only when the floor 27 and arch V 29 are cold or at a temperature unable to efblanket of coal has been placed upon the grate 18 or when a new fire is started.

The apertures 3() surrounding the pipes 31 permit an updraft of air therethrough to maintain the pipes 30 sufliciently cool-to` minimize the danger of oxidation or destruction thereof. The updraft of air at this point is also beneficial in assisting in the commingling of the air and combustion gases passing underneath the water curtain 21. In addition, it has the effect of introducing a still further supply of air which assists in the combustion of the fuel gases. rIhe invention contemplates any usual means for shutting off the supply of air to the apertures 30.

A door 35 is provided in the rear wall of the furnace for enabling entry to the secondary combustion chamber 14 by the removal of a portion of the brick in the arch 29. The

supporting plate 28 is perforated at this point to form a grate 36 which serves as an auxiliary ie-boxclesigned for the purpose of burning garbage or other refuse. The garbage is placed on the grate 36 when in a moist condition, at which time it is unfit for burning. The intense heat in proximity to the arch 29, resulting from the secondary combustion of gases, quickly dries the garbage. Further, the rapid movement of the gases carries away all odor from Said garbage, it being entirely ignited by the heat of the combustion chamber, or itY may be ignited by opening a door 37 disposed below the door 35 to admit air through the grate 36. The door 37 has the added function of enabling the furnace underneath the secondary combustion chamber to be cleaned as may be necessary atintervals. Y

The presence of the bridge wall 19 in front of the water curtain 21 has the effect of imparting a whirling motion to the gases passing thliereover. This whirling motionv is then partially interfered with by the flow of gases through the apertures 20, the gases passing through the apertures 20 impacting with the gases passing over the bridge wall 19 at high velocity, thereby effecting a further agitation thereof. At this point, additional air is introduced, which also contributes to the motion of the twirling gases. Subsequently the updraft of air through the apertures 20 will assist the desired agitation and cominingling, while the slope of the arch 29 also contributes thereto to intimately miX the combustion gases with the additional air, insuring further and complete combustion of the gases.

A furnace embodying the features illus trated and described herein, produced an intense heat with an unusually high thermal efficiency, it being almost impossible to make such a furnace smoke in any way, since all of the carbon and gases distilled from the coal are entirely burned in the secondary combustion chamber 14. A white glow eX- tended fromthe fire curtain 21 along the arch 29 and disappeared through the apertures between the sections 16, which is indicative of complete combustion. Various changes may be made in the embodiment of the invention herein specifically described without departing from or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof as defined in theappended claims.

I claim:

l. In 'a furnace, a combustion chamber in the front portion thereof, a grate in said chamber, a bridge wallupstanding from the rear of said grate, a water curtain rearwardly of said bridge wall and depending therebeloW to provide a baffle,`air conducting means associated with said water curtain and discharging air therefrom below the top level of said bridge wall, and a secondary combustion chamber to the rear of said water curtain and said bridge wall, there being apertures in said bridge Wall beneath the lower level of said water curtain to admit the passage of combustion vapors directly to said secondary combustion chamber.

2. In a furnace, a combustion chamber in n the front portion thereof, a grate in said chamber, a bridge wall upstanding from the rear of said grate and projecting the major distance from said grate to the top of said furnace, a Water curtain depending from the roof of said furnace to a. level well below the horizontal plane of the top of said bridge wall, air conducting means associated with said water curtain and adapted to discharge water cooled air below the level of the to-p of said bridge wall, and a secondary combustion chamber to the rear of said water curtain and said bridge wall, said secondary combustion chamber having a refractory floor, whereby the combustion vapors from said grate to the flue of said furnace are required to pursue a serpent-ine course, there being apertures in said bridge wall beneath the level of the lower edge of said water curtain to admit the passage of a limitedvolume of combustion vapors directly to said secondary combustion chamber. t

JAMES RUSSELL DOHERTY. 

